Reinforcement spacer



June 14, 1966 MENZEL 3,255,565

REINFORCEMENT SPACER Filed Oct. 4, 1963 INVENTOR ALms MENZEL ATTORNEYS the head to the base member.

3,255,565 REINFORCEMENT SPACER Alois Menzel, Torrens Park, South Australia, Australia, assignor to Rapid Metal Developments (Aust.) Pty. Limited Filed Oct. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 314,046 Claims priority, application Australia, Oct. 11, 1962,

23,123/62 7 Claims. (Cl. 52-678) This invention relates to an improved reinforcement spacer and the method of using same.

It is well known in the art of spacing reinforcements to use members which engage the reinforcements and the forming with a view to holding the reinforcements at the correct distance from the formwork and in the correct relative position thereto.

Various difliculties occur however in providing a satisfactory spacer such as the need to be able to use a spacer of different height and to engage it on rods of different diameter.

It is also necessary for a spacer to hold the rods in an exactly correct position and for this purpose the spacer must be sufficiently rigid so that the operators can walk on the rods without too greater distortion of the spacers, yet the spacers must be able to firmly engage the rods and must therefore have the required flexibility.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of spacer which will be readily attachable to the rods yet which will hold the rods in correct position under all practical conditions met with in this class of work.

Briefly the improved reinforcement spacer comprises, a head shaped to engage the rods, a base member to hold the head at the correct height from the formwork, and means on the head and base member to co-engage to hold The head is preferably formed of a more distortable material than the base member.

The method of using the improved reinforcement spacer comprises selecting a head which is shaped to engage the rods from a series of heads provided with differently dimensioned rod engaging means, selecting a base member from a series of base members having different heights, joining the selected head to the selected base member, and engaging the head on a rod to support the rod at the selected height.

To enable the invention to be more fully understood the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which is shown one embodiment and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an improved reinforcement spacer showing a piece of reinforcement engaged therein,

FIG. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the interconnected head and base member, and

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a modified head and a shorter base member to illustrate how these members may be'varied, the head being in part section to show the socket which engages the spigot of the base member.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The head 1 is of tubular form and has through its wall two pairs of diametrically placed apertures 2 and 3, the

pair of apertures 2 being of larger diameter than the pair' of apertures 3 so as to allow two sizes of rod to be engaged on the head 1.

A rod 4 is shown engaged in the larger pair of apertures 2.

The end 5 of the head 1 forms a socket into which the spigot 6 of the base member 7 is engaged, the end 5 of the head 1 having within it a flange 8 which is adapted 4 United States Patent 0 to engage in a circumferential groove 9 in the base member 7. The head 1 is assembled on the base member 7 by forcing the socket end 5 of the head over the spigot portion 6 of the base member, stretching the resilient distortable head to an extent suflicient to snap the socket portion of the head over the base member and engage the flange 8 in the groove 9.

The top edge of the base member 7 is preferably in line with the bottoms of the pairs of apertures 2 and 3 in the head 1 so that when a rod is engaged in either pair of apertures, the weight of the rod will be transmitted directly to the base member 7 which may be made of a stronger or less distortable material than the head 1, for it will be realised that with the form shown the head 1 must be distorted to allow the rods to be engaged thereon.

To allow ease of engagement of the rods on the head 1 the pairs of apertures'2 and 3 open through slots 10, the slots being shaped to have a wider opening at the end 11 of the head 1 to facilitate entry of a rod, the slots narrowing to where they open into the pairs of apertures 2 and 3, ensuring a more secure hold of a rod after it is forced into a pair of apertures 2 or 3 through the slots 10 communicating therewith. The base member 7 is tubular but converges towards the lower end 12, flanges 13 being formed on the periphery of the base member 7 to extend longitudinally thereon, the lower ends 14 of the flanges 13 being adapted to engage the formwork and support the spacer.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 similar parts bear similar reference numbers.

In these three pairs of apertures 15, 16 and 17 are shown, these again having slots 10 opening to same.

The head 1 again has a socket at the end 5, a flange 8 extending around within it to engage the groove 9 in the spigot 6.

In this case the base member 7 is of a minimum height, as are the flanges 13.

The difference in dimension of the heads 1 and base members 7 of the embodiments show how by interchanging heads and base members, rods of different size can be engaged and also their height above the formwork can be selected.

In use it is preferred to have a series of different heads 1 and a series of base members 7 of different length so that by selecting and fitting together appropriate heads and base members, an accurate positioning of rods of selected size can be made with respect to the formwork.

It will be realised from the foregoing that a very material advantage exists in the described two part reinforcement spacer in that both the head and the base can be formed of the material most suited for the purpose and also it is necessary to stock a minimum of such units as they can be made up to suit the particular conditions by selecting a head suitable for the size of reinforcement and a base of suitable length for the positioning of the rein-' forcement.

What is claim is:

1. A reinforcement spacer for supporting a reinforcing each of said apertures connecting to a slot in said tubular head member extending from the aperture to the upper rim of said tubular head member to permit insertion of a reinforcing bar through any opposed pair of said slots into the corresponding pair of said apertures,

- a rigid base member supporting said head member,

and mounting means on said head and base members firmly securing said head member on said base mem-' ber, said mounting means constituting interfitting flanges and grooves on said members.

2. A reinforcement spacer for supporting a reinforcing rod in a form, comprising:

a tubular head member, of resilient distortablc material, having a plurality of pairs of matched diametrically opposed apertures for receiving and gripping reinforcing rods of a corresponding plurality of different standard sizes,

each of said apertures connecting to a slot in said tubular head member extending from the aperture to the upper rim of said tubular head member to permit insertion of a reinforcing bar through any opposed pair of said slots into the corresponding pair of said apertures,

the Width of each slot at the point of connection to its associated aperture being smaller than the width of the aperture to require distortion of the head member during insertion of a reinforcing rod and thereby assure positive retention of the reinforcing rod in the apertures of the head, the lower portion of said member constituting a socket for receiving a base member,

a base member, formed of more rigid material than said head member, supporting said head member, and having an upper spigot portion engageable in said socket portion of said head member,

and mounting means formed integrally with said socket portion of said head member and said spigot portion of said base member, firmly securing said head member on said base member, said mounting means constituting a circumferential flange on one of said portions and a mating circumferential flange on the other of said portions, requiring stretching of said head member socket portion over said base member spigot portion to afford a snap fit therebetween.

3, A reinforcement spacer for supporting a reinforcingrod in a form, comprising:

a tubular head member, of resilient distortable material, having a plurality of pairs of matched diametrically opposed apertures for receiving and gripping reinforcing rods of a corresponding plurality of different standard sizes,

each of said apertures connecting to a slot in said tubular head member extending from the aperture to the upper rim of said tubular head member to permit insertion of a reinforcing bar through any opposed pair of said slots into the corresponding pair of said apertures,

the width of each slot at the point of connection to its associated aperture being smaller than the width of the aperture to require distortion of the head member during insertion of a reinforcing rod and thereby assure positive retention of the reinforcing rod in the apertures of the head,

i a rigid base member for supporting said head member,

and having a generally cylindrical upper rim,

and mounting means on said head and .base members firmly mounting said head member on said base member, said mounting means constituting interfitting flanges and grooves on said members,

the bottom of each of said apertures in said head member being approximately even with said upper rim of said base member, when said spacer is assembled, to afford a rigid support for said reinforcing rod.

4. A modular system of reinforcement spacers for supporting reinforcing rods in a form, comprising:

at least two tubular head members of corresponding diameter, formed of resilient distortable material, each having a plurality of pairs of matched diametrically opposed apertures for receiving and gripping reinforcing rods of a corresponding plurality of different standard sizes, the aperture pairs in one head member corresponding to reinforcing rods of different sizes than the aperture pairs of the other head member,

each of said apertures connecting to a slot in the tubular head member extending from the aperture to the upper rim of the tubular head member to permit insertion of a reinforcing bar through any opposed pair of said slots into the corresponding pair of said apertures,

the width of each slot at the point of connection to its associated aperture being smaller than the width of the aperture to require distortion of the head member during insertion of a reinforcing rod and thereby assure positive retention of the reinforcing rod in the apertures of the head,

at least two rigid base members, of different heights,

for supporting said head members,

said mounting means on each of Said head and base members firmly mounting any one of said head members on any one of said base members to permit assembly of a spacer of any of said different heights adapted to support reinforcing rods of any of said different sizes, said mounting means constituting a snap-on plug and socket connection formed by interfitting circumferential flanges and grooves on mating internal and external surfaces of said members.

5. A reinforcement spacer for supporting a reinforcing rod in a form, comprising:

a tubular head member, of resilient distortable material, having at least one pair of matched diametrically opposed apertures for receiving and gripping a reinforcing rod of a given size, v

each of said apertures connecting to a slot in said tubular head member extending from the aperture to the upper rim of said tubular head member to permit insertion of a reinforcing rod through said slots and into said pair of'apertures,

the width of each slot at the point of connection to its associated aperture being smaller than the width of the aperture to require distortion of the head member during insertion of a reinforcing rod and thereby assure positive retention of the reinforcing rod, at two spaced points, in the apertures of the head,

a base member, formed of a material more rigid than the head member, supporting said head member at a preselected height above a form,

and mounting means on said head and base members firmly securing said head member on said base memher.

6. A reinforcement spacer for supporting a reinforcing 6O rod in a form, comprising:

a tubular head member, of resilient distortable material, having at least one pair of matched diametrically opposed apertures for receiving and gripping.

a reinforcing rod of given size,

each of said apertures connecting to a slot in said tubular head member extending from the aperture to the upper rim of said tubular head member to permit insertion of a reinforcing rod through said slots and into said pair of apertures,

the width of each slot at the point of connection to its associated aperture being smaller than the width of the aperture to require distortion of the head member during insertion of a reinforcing rod and thereby assure positive retention of the reinforcing rod, at two spaced points, in the apertures of the head,

a base member, formed of a material more rigid than the head member, supporting said head member at a preselected height above a form,

and mounting means on said head and base members a plurality of sets of rigid base members, of different heights, supporting said head members, and complementary mounting means on each of said head and base members firmly securing any one of firmly securing said head member on said base mem- 5 said head members on any one of said base members her, said mounting means constituting a socket on to permit assembly of a spacer of any of said given said head member, a spigot on said base member heights adapted to support a reinforcing rod of any geable in said socket, and inteffitting flange and of said different sizes, said mounting means constigroove means formed in said socket and spigot securtuting interfitting flanges and grooves on said meming said head member to said base member. 10 bers.

7. A modular system of reinforcement spacers for supporting reinforcing rods in a form, comprising:

a plurality of sets of tubular head members, formed of resilient distortable material, each head member References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS having at least one pair of matched diametrically 1674476 2 Mathews 52-686 opposed apertures for receiving and gripping a rein- 2251421 19 1 Mabry 52678 forcing od of a given standard size, the aperture 28J213O 4/1958 i i 29*453 ai i head members of each set corresponding to 3025989 3/1962 Williams 215.42 different standard rod sizes, b FOREIGN N S each of'said apertures connecting to a slot in said tu ular head member extending from the aperture to the 20 233066 1/1961 Austraha' upper rim of said tubular head member to permit 12'29466 3/1960 France insertion of a reinforcing rod through said slots and gig :2

into said pair of apertures,

the width of each slot at the point of connection to its associated aperture being smaller than the width of the aperture to require distortion of the head member during insertion of a reinforcing rod and thereby assure positive retention of the reinforcing rod, at two spaced points, in the apertures of the head, 30

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Examiner.

M. O. WARNECKE, Assistant Examiner. 

7. A MODULAR SYSTEM OF REINFORCEMENT SPACERS FOR SUPPORTING REINFORCING RODS IN A FORM, COMPRISING: A PLURALITY OF SETS OF TUBULAR HEAD MEMBERS, FORMED OF RESILIENT DISTORTABLE MATERIAL, EACH HEAD MEMBER HAVING AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF MATCHED DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED APRERTURES FOR RECEIVING AND GRIPPING A REINFORCING ROD OF A GIVEN STANDARD SIZE, THE APERTURE PAIR IN HEAD MEMBERS OF EACH SET CORRESPONDING TO DIFFERENT STANDARD ROD SIZES, EACH OF SAID APERTURES CONNECTING TO A SLOT IN SAID TUBULAR HEAD MEMBER EXTENDING FROM THE APERTURE TO THE UPPER RIM OF SAID TUBULAR HEAD MEMBER TO PERMIT INSERTION OF A REINFORCING ROD THROUGH SAID SLOTS AND INTO SAID PAIR OF APERTURES, THE WIDTH OF EACH SLOT AT THE POINT OF CONNECTION TO ITS ASSOCIATED APERTURE BEING SMALLER THAN THE WIDTH OF THE APERTURE TO REQUIRE DISTORTION OF THE HEAD MEMBER DURING INSERTION OF A REINFORCING ROD AND THEREBY ASSURE POSITIVE RETENTION OF THE REINFORCING ROD, THE TWO SPACED POINTS, IN THE APERTURES OF THE HEAD, A PLURALITY OF SETS OF RIGID BASE MEMBERS, OF DIFFERENT HEIGHTS, SUPPORTING SAID HEAD MEMBERS, AND COMPLEMENTARY MOUNTING MEANS ON EACH OF SAID HEAD AND BASE MEMBERS FIRMLY SECURING ANY ONE OF SAID HEAD MEMBERS ON ANY ONE OF SAID BASE MEMBERS TO PERMIT ASSEMBLY OF A SPACER OF ANY OF SAID GIVEN HEIGHTS ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A REINFORCING ROD OF ANY OF SAID DIFFERENT SIZES, SAID MOUNTING MEANS CONSTITUTING INTERFITTING FLANGES AND GROOVES ON SAID MEMBERS. 